Whitsuntide Morning Prayer

First Lesson
Ecclesiasticus 39:1-81
BUT he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, and
is occupied in the meditation thereof, will seek out the wisdom
of all the ancient, and be occupied in prophecies.
2 He will keep the sayings of the renowned men: and where subtil
parables are, he will be there also.
3 He will seek out the secrets of grave sentences, and be conversant
in dark parables.
4 He shall serve among great men, and appear before princes:
he will travel through strange countries; for he hath tried the
good and the evil among men.
5 He will give his heart to resort early to the Lord that made
him, and will pray before the most High, and will open his mouth
in prayer, and make supplication for his sins.6 When
the great Lord will, he shall be filled with the spirit of understanding:
he shall pour out wise sentences, and give thanks unto the Lord
in his prayer.
7 He shall direct his counsel and knowledge, and in his secrets
shall he meditate.
8 He shall shew forth that which he hath learned, and shall glory
in the law of the covenant of the Lord.

1st Lesson Questions -
Have I given my mind to the law of God? (V. 1) What stops me from doing so? Is the Lord willing to fill me with His wisdom? (V. 6) Has He? How often do I read and study holy writ? How much time do I give to the study of scripture? RESOLVE.

Second Lesson
1 Corinthians 2
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency
of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus
Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words
of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but
in the power of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not
the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that
come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden
wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they
known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither
have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the
Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit
of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no
man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the
spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are
freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom
teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual
things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit
of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself
is judged of no man.16 For
who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?
But we have the mind of Christ.